How Flossing Help For Better Health
Although you know that you need to brush your teeth on a regular basis, you may think that flossing is merely an optional extra. However, it turns out that flossing is as important as brushing, and it can improve your oral health in a number of significant ways. Also, people with periodontal disease are twice as likely to develop heart disease, as a result of plaque entering the bloodstream through the gums.
Flossing helps to prevent tooth decay and gum disease by clearing food and bacteria from your teeth. In addition, there are different forms of dental floss available, and there is a precise technique that will help you to make the most of whichever type you choose to buy.
Here’s what the statistics say about the general use of floss:
- Only four out of ten Americans floss at least once a day
- Only about 60% of your teeth are being cleaned when just brushing
- 20% of Americans never floss
What type of floss is best?
In general, there are two types of floss available on the market: waxed and unwaxed. Sometimes, you can get them flavored to make flossing an even more enjoyable experience, especially for younger children. Waxed floss is better for gliding into the tighter nooks between your teeth. However, some people are allergic to wax so unwaxed would be a better option in this case. In any case, make the best choice based on your preference. The most important thing is that you are able to use floss easily and quickly without pain.
What is the Right Way to Floss?
To receive maximum benefits from flossing, use the following proper technique:
- Starting with about 18 inches of floss, wind most of the floss around each middle finger, leaving an inch or two of floss to work with
- Holding the floss tautly between your thumbs and index fingers, slide it gently up-and-down between your teeth
- Gently curve the floss around the base of each tooth, making sure you go beneath the gum line. Never snap or force the floss, as this may cut or bruise delicate gum tissue
- Use clean sections of floss as you move from tooth to tooth
- To remove the floss, use the same back-and-forth motion to bring the floss up and away from the teeth
Health Benefits
Since flossing helps to remove bacteria, regularly using dental floss will make you less likely to develop gum disease, bad breath and cavities. Secondly, flossing helps to keep your smile looking its best by removing some of the debris that can make teeth look dull and grey.
The American Dental Association recommends flossing because brushing alone does not thoroughly clean out your mouth. There are some areas in your mouth that brushing cannot reach and only flossing will be able to clean them out. So, if you want to have a proper oral hygiene, make sure to follow these tips and include flossing into your daily routine!
